Paris in a Day: What to Do With 24 Hours

Paris has been receiving one-day visitors since the age of rail travel, and the city is designed for it in the sense that the most significant sights are concentrated in the central arrondissements within walking or one Metro stop of each other. One day doesn't come close to covering Paris, but it covers enough to understand the city and want to come back.

Getting In and Out

Paris has two major airports. Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is around 45 to 60 minutes from the city centre by RER B train. Orly is around 35 to 40 minutes by Orly Val and RER B. The Eurostar from London St Pancras arrives at Gare du Nord, which puts you directly in the north of the city. Budget transfer time for CDG especially, as the journey can be longer in traffic by other means.

Morning

The Louvre opens at 9am and the queues at the main pyramid entrance build fast. Book in advance and enter through the Carrousel du Louvre underground entrance instead. The Louvre is one of the world's great museums, which also means it's overwhelming. Pick a section: the Denon wing houses the most famous works (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace). Allow two hours with a plan rather than three hours without one.

From the Louvre, walk through the Tuileries Garden to the Place de la Concorde and along the Champs-Élysées toward the Arc de Triomphe. The walk takes around 30 minutes. The Champs-Élysées is more impressive as a concept than as a street; the Arc de Triomphe is worth climbing for the views (book in advance).

Afternoon

Take the Metro to the Eiffel Tower. The queues for the lifts are long; the stairs are faster. The view from the second floor is as good as the top. Book in advance regardless.

Cross the Seine to the Left Bank and walk through Saint-Germain-des-Prés. This is literary Paris: the cafés where Sartre and de Beauvoir worked, the Musée d'Orsay (Impressionist masterpieces, 90 minutes minimum), and the Luxembourg Gardens.

Lunch or dinner in the Marais neighbourhood (Right Bank): one of Paris's most characterful areas, with good bistros, Jewish delis, and the Place des Vosges.

Evening (if time allows)

Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur basilica are best in the early evening: the hilltop view over the city at dusk is excellent and the tourist crowds thin after 6pm.

For a classic Parisian dinner, any small bistro in the 11th arrondissement (Oberkampf, Parmentier) or the 6th (Saint-Germain) delivers better food and better value than the tourist restaurants near the major sights.

What to Skip

The Versailles day trip is outstanding but takes a full day. Don't try to combine it with Paris itself.

The Paris Catacombs are interesting but require a long advance booking and the queue management can eat an hour of your day.

Paris is one of the world's most visited cities for good reason, and it reveals more depth with every visit. Our Paris guide covers the arrondissements, the best food, and the logistics in detail.